Everyone at some point needs a word processor, for writing letters etc. You can use NotePad if you really want but I like built in spell checkers, word counts and page formatting. Not everyone can afford Microsoft Office or want it, so what are the alternatives?

Based on this blog post (Six office alternatives) by Alastair Otter, here is a summary of the current selection of programs and online services...

• OpenOffice
  This software is free to download (open source) and currently available on Windows and Linux. Mac versions are available I believe but a little convoluted to install. OpenOffice is consider by most as the best alternative to MS Office. I used it all the time and not failed me yet!

• AbiWord
  Not really part of a suite but can be teamed up with programs such as Gnumeric (available for Linux and Windows).

• Google Docs including spreadsheet
  First launched in 2006, this online system allows word processing and more. Being browser based, you can access it from your account from anywhere this is a computer.

• ThinkFree Office online
  An alternative to Google Docs, includes word processing and spreadsheet along with a presentation tool. Again browser based so access is anywhere.

• Zoho
  Considered better than ThinkFree, more than 20 online applications including email and chat.

• NeoOffice
  Mac users will like this this software as it is targeted at you. It was created using the software code for OpenOffice as OpenOffice was not available for the Mac until version 3.

One of the many reasons I use OpenOffice is that I don't want to payout for Microsoft Office when I would use a tiny fraction of the available features.

What do you use and how do you get on with it?